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Queen of Water (Queen Series)

Queen of Water (Queen Series)

A Remarkable Story of Kundavai Pirattiyar, a Chola Princess | Young Adult Historical Fiction | Ages 13+

Devika Rangachari
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The Kaveri is eternal; it will never let us down—and we Cholas live by this adage.’

Kundavai is the daughter of the mighty Sundara Chola. She glories in the history of her dynasty and their victories in their perpetual battles for supremacy against the Cheras and Pandyas, and tries to understand the nature of power. She also constantly challenges herself—in ways discouraged by her mother, who wants her to embrace traditional feminine pursuits.

When an assassination puts her family at threat, Kundavai must discover the dark secrets that lie hidden. She is determined to protect the Chola legacy, even if that comes at the expense of sacrificing her own hopes for the future . . .

This dazzling new novel by acclaimed historian Devika Rangachari delves into the little-known story of the woman who was advisor to two of the mightiest monarchs of medieval India.

Imprint: Duckbill

Published: Aug/2025

ISBN: 9780143471660

Length : 224 Pages

MRP : ₹299.00

Queen of Water (Queen Series)

A Remarkable Story of Kundavai Pirattiyar, a Chola Princess | Young Adult Historical Fiction | Ages 13+

Devika Rangachari

The Kaveri is eternal; it will never let us down—and we Cholas live by this adage.’

Kundavai is the daughter of the mighty Sundara Chola. She glories in the history of her dynasty and their victories in their perpetual battles for supremacy against the Cheras and Pandyas, and tries to understand the nature of power. She also constantly challenges herself—in ways discouraged by her mother, who wants her to embrace traditional feminine pursuits.

When an assassination puts her family at threat, Kundavai must discover the dark secrets that lie hidden. She is determined to protect the Chola legacy, even if that comes at the expense of sacrificing her own hopes for the future . . .

This dazzling new novel by acclaimed historian Devika Rangachari delves into the little-known story of the woman who was advisor to two of the mightiest monarchs of medieval India.

Buying Options
Paperback / Hardback

Devika Rangachari

Dr Devika Rangachari is an award-winning Indian writer whose Queen of Ice was on the White Raven list, won the Neev Young Adult Book Award, was shortlisted for the Sahitya Akademi Puraskar, has been optioned for a movie and is part of the Penguin Classics series. Her other books include The Mauryas, Queen of Fire (Parag Honour List 2022); Queen of Earth (Parag Honour List 2021; shortlisted for the Neev, Sahitya Akademi and the JK AutHer Awards); The Train to Tanjore (shortlisted for the Neev Award); 10 Indian Monarchs Whose Amazing Stories You May Not Know; Tales of Love and Adventure; Swami Vivekananda—A Man with a Vision; Harsha Vardhana; The Merry Mischief of Gopal Bhand; The Wit of Tenali Raman and Growing Up (on the IBBY Honour List 2002). She was also the recipient of a prestigious national fellowship awarded by the ministry of culture to research aspects of gender and historical fiction in Indian children’s literature.

Devika also writes narrative non-fiction for adults based on her doctoral and post-doctoral research on gender in Indian history. Her academic works include From Obscurity to Light: Women in Early Medieval Orissa (Seventh to Twelfth Centuries ad) and Invisible Women, Visible Histories: Gender, Society and Polity in North India (Seventh to Twelfth Century AD). She has also published widely in academic journals, participated in national and international academic conferences, and been the recipient of several prestigious academic fellowships.

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